I think a lot of people misunderstand that an open source OS like Android does not necessarily mean that every aspect of a particular device will be open to tinker with.

The Apache license Android is distributed under specifically allows companies to maintain proprietary innovations and features. This would be impossible if there weren't protections placed on certain things.

That does not mean Android isn't open. Many people can't or won't understand this point. A locked bootloader does not mean Android is not open.

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